Council On American Islamic Relations California
PROGRAMS
Immigrants’ Rights
CAIR-LA provides immigration legal services that are designed to benefit low-income communities. We empower non-citizens by helping them achieve independence, security, and the opportunity to fully participate in American society. In recent years, the demand for CAIR-LA's immigration services has increased. It is vital to challenge xenophobic policies and offer services to our community members who would otherwise be unable to afford legal assistance obtaining immigration benefits. Our immigration staff proactively work to resolve immigration matters with the Black, Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim and South Asian communities at large. Through our immigrants' rights services, we support particularly vulnerable populations that face a greater risk of exploitation, lack of proper representation, and delays. By assisting them to gain lawful status, CAIR-LA allows them to gain access to benefits and helps set them on a path to becoming civically engaged community members.
CAIR-LA is dedicated to providing high-quality, low cost or pro bono services to individuals otherwise unable to obtain legal assistance. Our clients include individuals seeking asylum, lawful permanent residence, citizenship, or family reunification, as well as victims of human trafficking, serious crimes, and domestic violence.
Civil Rights
Civil rights advocacy remains at the center of CAIR-LA’s work. We work to resolve cases through mediation, negotiation, public pressure or, if necessary, through legal action. Our services are often provided free of charge to the community. We also organize Know Your Rights campaigns and provide resources and information to the community on various issues.
Our Civil Rights team offers high-quality pro bono services to individuals otherwise unable to obtain legal assistance. We handle a wide range of cases of employment discrimination, hate crime, hate incidents, immigration, prisons, public accommodation, school bullying, travel, and various other types of cases of religious discrimination in areas such as naturalization and permanent residency delays, landlord-tenant arrangements, and higher education.
Youth Empowerment
CAIR has always believed that in order to secure a brighter future for our communities, investments must be made in providing our youth with the tools to become the leaders of tomorrow. Through its programs, CAIR aims to equip youth with the proper training and support to become agents of positive change. Our main youth programs include Muslim Youth Leadership Program (MYLP), Muslim Gamechangers Network (MGN), and the Bridging Communities Program (BCP).
Muslim youth will be agents for increasing civic engagement in the broader Muslim community. They will enter into the fields of advocacy, community organizing, and public service in greater numbers or will continue to be civically engaged outside of their professional careers. Also: -Muslims know how to organize their community-Muslims work in coalition with other communities of color and marginalized communities; they employ an intersectional analysis to understand and advocate on their issues and can actualize their role as allies-Muslims have practical tools to push local and statewide policy change.
Community Outreach and Education
CAIR-LA seeks to organize and educate American Muslims about their rights so that they may fully engage in all aspects of civic life. CAIR-LA also works with allied organizations representing other communities in order to build coalitions that foster justice and mutual understanding.
CAIR-LA offers workshops to empower and educate American Muslims in the areas of civil liberties, civic engagement, and media relations. CAIR-LA also forges strong partnerships with various community organizations is critical to promoting justice and mutual understanding. From civil rights cases and interfaith initiatives to youth development programs and lobby days, our successes are directly linked to the strength of our grassroots engagement in the community and partnerships with local groups.
CONTACT
Council On American Islamic Relations California
2180 West Crescent Ave
Anaheim, CA 92801-3842
Phone: 714-776-1847